2017 College World Series Contest

Tis the time for Autographed Cards annual College Baseball World Series Contest-so head on over and give it a while. I didn't win yet-but fun is fun. Good luck!

Freedom ain't Free

As we sit here pondering what to do on the third and final day of the Memorial Day three day weekend-I thought I would post the STL Redbird and Brown's players who made the ultimate sacrifice-as Abraham Lincoln said "Their last full measure".

Robert O. "Bob" Neighbors was a Arkansas native who played short stop for the Browns in 1939. He would appear in seven games, with two hits in 11 at-bats. Bob joined the military in 1942 and stayed after the war ended. He saw service in Korea where his plan was shot down as a  B-26B Invader pilot with the 13th Bomb Squadron of the 3rd Bomb Group. During a night mission on Aug. 8, 1952 his plan was shot down and he was the only MLBer to die during the Korean War.

Harry M. Glenn played catcher with the Cardinals for six games at the beginning of the 1915 season, going 5-for-16 for a .313 average. He was drafted in to the Army n WWI as a mechanic  where he developed pneumonia and he passed away on October 12, at the age of 28.

Harry E. Chapman played with the Browns, Cubs, and others before enlisting in Army after the 1917 season. The catcher was 32 and would die during the Great Influenza at State Hospital No. 3 in Nevada, Mo., on Oct. 21, 1918.

"A New Contest: The Top 10 Cards in my PC" Oh Yadi, my Yadi

I am procrastinator at times-this is an example, a few weeks ago I noted the contest held by Collecting Cutch to have each of us show off their PC collection's top 10 cards. I picked cards that are my top 10 sometimes because they are different which I appreciate. So here we go.

#10 Almost put this at #1. But instead it finished up the list of my top ten-2006 Upper Deck Signature Sensations. Picked up some 7 years ago for about $25-the first Yadi card I ever bought.

#9 I have never pulled any special Yadi cards out of boxes, pack, etc. until I pulled this 2016 Topps Heritage 1967 Bazooka from a rack box from Target

#8 This is the last auto added to our collection-2014 Topps Pastime auto #ed out of 99 (image borrowed)

#7 With this choice I took a little different direction-I AM one of those collectors that will collect their player on other player's cards-but only if it is obvious it is Yadi-thus this is 2013 Topps Toys R' Us Purple Aaron Hill.

#6 2006 Christian Family Day SGA Card-fascinating sets-issued in the 2000s-basic artwork, biblical passages etc. unique to say the least.

#5 2005 Donruss Zenith Artist's Proof Silver

#4 2005 Donruss Playoff Prestige Purple-another color bomb

#3-I have a love affair for the 2004 Leaf Certified Cuts cards-and the Yadi Marble Red is no exception-add auto, extra sweet.

#02 2004 Bowman's Best First Year Auto. The card itself pops and pure beauty-add his auto-and bam #2

#01 2001 Appalachian League-Why this card? Simply because this is the first of his and I love the youthful pre-tatted Yadi.

Box o' Fun 2014 Prizm Perennial Draft Picks

A little while ago I picked up a hobby box of 2014 Prizm Draft Picks-needed something inexpensive to bust. It didn't let me down-in the fun category.

Did get a few Redbirds-Luke Weaver, Jack Flaherty, and a Canadian Malik Collymore (recently my buddy married a wonderful Canadian woman and the wedding was last weekend-let me tell you those Canadians can party).  Malik was traded to the Brewers for Jonathan Broxton and is now playing in Australia.

Per usual Panini brings the color parallels. Sean Newcomb (Angels) Refractor, Luis Severino (Yanks)

Minors Gold Byron Buxton (Twins)

Blue Mojo Prizm Jonathan Holder (Yanks) #61/75

Red Prizm Eric Fedde (Nats) #42/100

Purple Prizm James Norwood (Cubs) #060/149

Powder Blue Trey Supak (Pirates) #099/199

On to the Autos-on average a box is suppose to give up 3 autos-alas this box held 4.

Chase Vallot (KC) #40, Only 20 and currently at A+ Wilmington of the Carolina League (Catcher /DH)-Right Batter and thrower. Over 4 seasons he is hitting a paltry .220. Outcome for Chase doesn't look bright-with Perez and such.

Casey Gillaspie (Tampa) Green #30/75,  First baseman Switch hitter ,throws left. At
Durham AAA where he is hitting .202. Outlook not good-at least by his average.

Raicel Iglesias, perhaps name is spelled with S and not a C,  Red #98/100 Cuban Closer for the Reds and he has racked up 9 saves so far this season.

Derek Fisher (Astros)  Press Proof #188/199 Outfielder currently with AAA Fresno where he is hitting .333. Other than Raicel he may be the one that may makes it. All in all a fun box to break-looking to pick up another.

Check Out My (Oscar) Cards

October 26, 2014 is a date many Cardinals’ fans will not forget. It was the day the life of the “El Fenómeno” Oscar Taveras was tragically cut short.  Not sure how it is happening, sure I know how, but I have begun to gather OT autographs. These are not expensive and of course there will not be anymore. Recently COMC had a Spring Cleaning sale. Now I don’t buy much of anything from the website-and this would be only my second purchase. I think for me COMC is best for autos and game used/relic cards.  Prices for these are often better than on the Bay.

I scanned through the pages of Cardinals’ autos and had a basic search parameter of less than $5 autos. What I noticed among the scores of former minor leaguers, AKA “busts” and current “busts” such as Matt Adams, Joe Kelley, Shelby Miller, etc. there were several reasonably priced OT autos.  I checked my spreadsheet to see what was needed and what was not and I found these were the ones to add to our collection. There are over 350 autographed OT cards. Below are the COMC autos purchased (please note most of the images below were borrowed from COMC)

2014 Bowman Platinum Blue Refractor #92/199, 2014 Bowman Platinum Autographed Prospects Green Refractor #398/399,

2014 Panini Prizm Purple #44/99, 2014 Topps Mini, 2013 Panini Prizm (smudged auto), 2014 Bowman Inception Prospect, Ditto but Gold #72/99, and 2014 Bowman Sterling Rookie Autograph Magenta Refractor #27/99.

Other OT autos in the collection

2013 Bowman Sterling - Prospect Autographs
2014 Bowman Chrome - Rookie Autographs Blue Refractors #012/150
2014 Bowman Platinum - Prospect Autographs
2014 Bowman Sterling - Rookie Autographs
2014 Donruss - Turn of the Century Signatures
2014 Topps Chrome - Rookie Autographs
2014 Stadium Club - Autographs

Time to Check Out for the Season?

After another loss because of a mismanaged game by this numb nut I am checking out of the Redbirds  for who knows how long. It is one thing to just have bad team who plays poorly, it is another thing to have a decent team but horrible management. This goes to Cardinals' leadership. Auf Wiedersehen Redbirds! I am still blogging-

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Bobble Head Fun and Blues Autos and a Jersey (card)

I wanted to post a few more items gifted by Mr. Fuji. I added another bobble head to my slowly growing collection in my office-Big Mac was one of the goodies in the bag and the Yadi was a recent pickup on the Bay.

Mark also included three St.Louis Blues' autos-a 1998 In the Game Geoff Courtnall and Kelly Chase. Geoff played less than a season with the Blues before a blockbuster trade to the Canucks. These players would then make the core of the Canucks' 1994 Cup run. He would however come back to the Blues for 1995-96 season then would remain until 1999-2000 season.

Kelly Chase I do remember well-he played almost his entire career with the Blue Note, except for a few seasons with the old Hartford Whalers and two games with the Leafs. He currently does the color commentary for the Blues on KMOX.

Also included in the Bag o' Goodies were an on card auto of Blue Jim Campbell who played with the Blues for a number of seasons-last the 1999=2000 season.

How about a legendary Cardinal! Dal Maxvill-he played with the Birds for 10 years then went on to be the GM. He has been out of baseball since about 1994, On card auto on a 1968 Topps none the less, fantastic.

To wrap the generosity of Mark here is a 2006 Bowman Sterling Jersey Card of Scott Rolen. Many thanks again!